MS3 Case Study

April 25, 2017

Welcome back to another feature of IT role profiles! The UX Designer role claimed the #3 spot on TechRepublic’s IT’s hottest jobs of 2017, which predicts the top tech jobs companies want to fill throughout the year. This month, we’ll highlight the UX Designer role and answer some popular questions relating to this position.

What is a UX Designer?

More organizations want to invest in improving the customer’s experience, and they can do just that by hiring UX Designers. UX Designers are generally “responsible for how a product or website feels. The UX designer’s job is to zero in on users’ underlying emotional and functional needs — then help execute on those discoveries to create an enjoyable experience.” (RobertHalf)

UX Magazine explains that the overall user experience process is made up of four main phases:

User Research – Gathering data from your customers about the product

Design – Using research data to improve the product’s functionality

Testing – Test the product’s updates and correct any problems that may have come up

Implementation – Collaborate with the development team in making the product live

Each of these phases can include many tasks, which is why the specific responsibilities of a UX Designer will vary from organization to organization. The larger the company, the more responsibility is required, and additional people may be needed to take ownership of these phases.

Glassdoor also reports the national average salary of UX Designers is $87,883, but some UX Designers can make six-figures in larger organizations.

How is a UX Designer different than a UI Designer?

UX and UI Designers can often be confused for one another as both roles are responsible for customer products. However, UX Designers are responsible for the customer’s experience relating to a product, and UI Designers are responsible for how a product is laid out. Fast Co. Design also notes that sometimes these two roles can be merged as they both work closely with a certain product(s).

What is the outlook for UX Designers?

According to BLOC, the need for UX Designers has been on the rise for over the last 10 years, and that trend should continue well into the future. We find ourselves in an innovation era, which is leading many companies to strive to innovate and set themselves apart from the competition, and a great way to do that is by improving the customer’s experience.